Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Matthew 16:25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

Matthew 16:26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? And the answer to the question is nothing we can do to save our soul.

A cross is something to die on, and when you take up your cross, you place all your self your belief, and pleasures beneath that which is part of the Christian's discipline as set forth in His Word. Don't play church, and let your emotions rule you, but do as Christ says.

You must make the teaching, and the church, and your emotions a reality that if it was called upon us to die for Christ, you would be willing to sacrifice your own life, Any thing short of that is play acting, and the cross becomes nothing but a trinket worn around your neck. We are to humble our self daily. The flesh must die daily, we are talking spiritually.

Let’s look at Matthew 19:16 and see what the scripture says.

Matthew 19:16 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"

This one that came was one well to do; he came to Jesus in his self-righteousness, and asked Jesus just what it was that he should do to have this eternal life. Jesus could see right through this person, and the intent that he had, just calling Jesus good.

Matthew 19:17 "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."

Jesus is telling this persons that the only person that is good is God Himself, and to call Jesus "good Master", is to call Jesus God. Then Jesus turns the table on the man, and tells him that if he wants to have eternal life, that he must continue through his whole life, and keep all the commandments.

Matthew 19:18 "Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,

Matthew 19:19 honor your father and mother, and 'love your neighbor as yours self.

This self-righteous person answered Jesus and said, There are ten of them, which one are you talking about? Jesus then answers him with the ten commandments.

Matthew 19:20 "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"

Matthew 19:21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions

and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Keep in mind that this is exactly what the disciples had done, when they made their total commitment to follow Christ. Some gave up commercial business, and fishing, and even tax collection. In fact, Luke was a medical doctor.

Jesus saw the heart of this man that came to Him, and though he tried to keep all the laws, and he felt that he had. Jesus is telling him that he must be willing to give up his riches in the world, and turn his full attention into serving the almighty God.

In that case you would have eternal life. Remember what is addressed here, the subject is what must I do to have eternal life by keeping the law.

That is impossible for natural man, for all are born in sin, and with a sin nature.

This man had many earthly gains, and much of it could be ill-gotten gains. This isn't to say that all gains are ill-gotten, and when you do things God's way, He blesses those that do. Those earthly gains are giving from heaven, for they are given to you for obeying God. There is nothing wrong with gains from God's blessings.

Matthew 19:22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

The tenth commandment got this young man.

It is given in Exodus 20:17; "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, or his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's."

Wherever your priorities are in the world that is where your heart is also.

Matthew 19:23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

The point that Jesus is giving here is that this young man's riches are everything his life is base upon. When these riches become the only thing that you live for, then they become your God, and hold a higher place in your mind then the Heavenly Father. The business takes up all of the man's time, and attention.

However, riches from the blessings of God, doing things God's way, is something you can take great pleasure in. because they are true blessings.

Matthew 19:24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

Once a rich young man gets caught up in his own affairs, or whatever it is that has caused his accumulation of wealth, that also hold the highest place of his priorities. Once wealth has been obtained, it becomes a greater job to maintain it, then it was to obtain it.

The riches of God's kingdom take second place to the physical life that he is enjoying temporarily with his riches.

The term, "the eye of the needle" is in reference to a small door that is in the gate of a city, and this is the only door that is allowed to be opened after dark. For a camel to pass through the gate and enter the city, the camel must be completely unloaded, and forced through. Thus the comparison of the difficulty of the rich man. This rich man must first unload his wealth,

This young man is definitely seeking the advantage of man's world, rather then coming to God through Christ, with his complete love for the Father.

Let’s see what Jesus has to say, In (John 14:6.)

John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Friend, that is the only way to eternal life that Jesus Christ will give to you upon repentance. That is the way, the truth, the life.

We have to have faith in Jesus.

There was once an acrobatic walking a tightrope in the circus, he was an expert in his field. He had a man on his shoulders as he performed his performance, and as he made his way across the tightrope, he came all the way across and then all the way back the crowd was cheering. He looked at the crowd and said do you believe that I can make it all the way across and all the way back again, and the crowd went wild. And they shouted Yes! Yes! So the acrobatic said to the crowd, do we have a volunteer, will one of you get on my shoulders and let me walk you across. The crowd turned and looked won upon another. And one by one they started to walk away. Until they had all left. You see Church, The same way Jesus says to trust in him, and we as his children don't have the faith to believe in all the promises he has to offer. But just like the crowd, we turn and walk away. Church before you turn your back on Jesus, look at His back, for his back bore the strips four us! (Isaiah 53:5)

Lets go to In Luke 18:29

Luke 18:29: "I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God

Luke 18:30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life."

When you are fully committed to the Lord and you have put God first in your life, you simply do not have to wait unto you die to receive benefits for your commitment to God.

This doesn't mean that you are to ignore your family and head off into a ministry, but that your commitment to God must be foremost in your mind. Those people that went forth in the ministry in that day, had to leave family and friends, and the communication with them, for the sake of the gospel.

They did not have the modern means that we have today for their travels.

What does eternal life offer?

1. John 14:3 Heaven is being prepared by Jesus himself.

2. Revelation 21:21 Each gate is made of solid pearl. There are twelve in all.

3. Revelation 21:21The Main Street is made of transparent gold.

4. Revelation 21:25 the gate will never be shut.

5. Ps. 50:2 it is a place of beauty.

6. Ps. 16:11 it is a place joy.

7.1Cor 13:10 it is a place of perfection.

8. Revelation7:17 there will be no more tears.

9. Revelation 21:4 there will be no more pain.

10. Revelation 22:2 there will be no more death.

In book of 1 Corinthian 15:54

1 Corinthian 15:54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory.

1 Corinthian 15:55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

1 Corinthian 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

1 Corinthian 15:57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthian 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

what are the facts about our resurrected bodies in heaven.

1.1 John 3:2 it will be a body like Christ

2. 1 Corinthian 13:2 it will be a recognizable body.

3. John 21:12:13 it will be a body that will be able to eat.

4. Roman 8:18 it will be a glorious body.

5. 2 Corinthian 5:1 it will be an eternal body.

The bible says that there are activities in heaven.

1. Hebrews 2:12 in heaven there will be singing.

2. 1 Corinthian13:9:10 it will be a place to learn.

3. Revelation 7:15 it will be a place of serving.

Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

Revelation 21:2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.

They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

Revelation 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Revelation 21:5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.

In Closing.

Matthew 28:20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Also in Heb13:5 "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.

That is the way it will be, trust in the Lord My friends, always seek the word of God first.